Light amount adjusting device and image capture apparatus

ABSTRACT

A light amount adjusting device includes: a cover plate having a light-passing hole; a first separator being sheet-shaped and having a hole; a second separator being elastically deformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side opposite to the cover plate with the first separator therebetween, and having a hole; a first light amount adjusting blade movable between the cover plate and the first separator; a second light amount adjusting blade being movable between the first separator and the second separator; a base body to which the cover plate, the first separator, and the second separator are mounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughhole being formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole of the second separator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separator to be mounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to technical fields of light amountadjusting device and image capture apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Image capture apparatuses are provided with alight amount adjustingdevice for adjusting an amount of light captured via lens groups.

In one such light amount adjusting device, two light amount adjustingblades, i.e., a shutter blade and a filter blade, are incorporated, suchthat the shutter blade is arranged between a base body formed from aresin material and one of separators, whereas the filter blade isarranged between the one separator and the other separator (see, e.g.,Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP 2005-173133, PatentReference 1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the light amount adjusting device disclosed in PatentReference 1, one light adjusting blade (shutter blade) is arrangedbetween the base body formed from the resin material and the separator,and is thick due to the fact that the base body is made from a resinmaterial. If there is a member arranged on a side opposite to theseparator with having the base body therebetween, the member needs bearranged at a position not interfering with the base body, whichrequires a large arrangement space in the optical-axis direction, andhence prevents realization of a thickness reduction.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide technology for realizing athickness reduction in the optical-axis direction. The present inventionis made in view of the above circumstances.

In embodiments of the present invention, there are provided a lightamount adjusting device and an image capture apparatus both of whichinclude a cover plate having a light-passing hole, a first separatorbeing sheet-shaped and having a hole, a second separator beingelastically deformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side oppositeto the cover plate with the first separator therebetween, and having ahole, a first light amount adjusting blade being movable between thecover plate and the first separator, for adjusting an amount of light, asecond light amount adjusting blade being movable between the firstseparator and the second separator, for adjusting the amount of light, abase body to which the cover plate, the first separator, and the secondseparator are mounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, thethroughhole being formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter ofthe hole of the second separator, the mounting grooves allowing thesecond separator to be mounted therein and being opened toward thethroughhole, a first actuator for operating the first light amountadjusting blade, and a second actuator for operating the second lightamount adjusting blade. In the light amount adjusting device and theimage capture apparatus, the base body is formed by injection moldingusing a first mold and a second mold which are separated in a directionin which the throughhole passes through. Furthermore, the mountinggroove is formed by forming the mounting groove forming projections inthe first mold and the second mold, respectively, the mounting grooveforming projections projecting in such directions as to come closer toeach other, and coming into contact with each other during abutment ofthe first and second molds for charging resin melt into cavities.Furthermore, the second separator is mounted onto the base body byallowing the elastically deformed second separator to be elasticallyreturned so as to insert at least a part of an outer circumferentialportion thereof into the mounting grooves, by positioning the secondseparator further toward the second light amount adjusting blade thanthe throughhole, and by positioning the hole on an inner side of thethroughhole.

Accordingly, in the above-mentioned light amount adjusting device andimage capture apparatus, it is possible to arrange the member to bearranged on the side opposite to the second separator with having thebase body therebetween, inside the throughhole of the base body.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned light amount adjusting device andimage capture apparatus, it is possible to move the member arranged onthe side opposite to the second separator with having the base bodytherebetween, to a position at which the member is inserted into thethroughhole, thereby realizing a thickness reduction of the light amountadjusting device in the optical-axis direction.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of mountingprojections may be provided on the outer circumferential portion of thesecond separator so as to be spaced apart in a circumferentialdirection, the mounting projections being mounted while inserted intothe mounting grooves of the base body. Accordingly, it is possible tostabilize the mounting of the second separator on the base body.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a pair of shutterblades may be used as the first light amount adjusting blade, a lightreducing filter may be used as the second light amount adjusting blade,the cover plate may be formed from a metallic material, and a slidingprojection along which the first light amount adjusting blade is slidmay be provided on the cover plate. Accordingly, frictional forcesoccurring during operations of the shutter blades are small, therebyimproving the reliability of operations and reducing power consumption.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, first slidingprojections and second sliding projections may be provided as thesliding projection of the cover plate. The first and second projectionsmay have different amounts of projection and be slid by the pair ofshutter blades, respectively. Accordingly, the pair of shutter blades isheld in different positions in a thickness direction, which prevent thepair of shutter blades from interfering with each other duringrotations, thereby realizing smooth operations of the pair of shutterblades.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the shutter bladesmay be rotatably supported by the base body, and the sliding projectionsof the cover plate may be formed into approximate arcs on circles havingrotating centers of the shutter blades as centers. Accordingly,frictional resistances of the shutter blades to the sliding projectionsoccurring during rotations are hard to change, thereby realizing thesmooth operations of the shutter blades.

In the above-mentioned image capture apparatus, it is possible to movethe member arranged on the side opposite to the second separator withhaving the base body therebetween, to a position at which the member isinserted into the throughhole, thereby realizing a thickness reductionof the light amount adjusting device in the optical-axis direction andthe size-reduction of the image capture apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing, along with FIGS. 2 through 37, an imagecapture apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 1 being a perspective view of the image capture apparatus with alens barrel accommodated in an apparatus body;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image capture apparatus with thelens barrel projected from the apparatus body;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image capture apparatus as viewedfrom a side opposite to a side shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lens barrel;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the lens barrel;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the lens barrel in a retractedposition;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a fixingportion, a focus motor unit, and a focus moving unit;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which thefocus motor unit and the focus moving unit are supported by the fixingportion;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a fixed ring, acum cylinder, and a linear guide;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing how a case bodyis mounted;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the case bodyand various members to be mounted thereto;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view showing how the case body ismounted;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing, along with FIGS. 14 through 16, anintermediate movable unit, FIG. 13 being an exploded perspective view ofan entire part thereof;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a state inwhich a first correcting moving frame is supported by a base frame;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a state inwhich the first correcting moving frame and a second correcting movingframe are supported by the base frame;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing an outer yoke and othermembers in an exploded form;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the first correcting movingframe;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing, along with FIG. 19, a procedure formolding the first correcting moving frame, FIG. 18 being an enlargedsectional view showing a state in which a first mold and a second moldare abutted to form cavities and resin melts are charged into thecavities;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in which the firstmold and the second mold are separated from each other to form the firstcorrecting moving frame;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the intermediate movable unitseparated from a light amount adjusting device;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view of a second movable unit;

FIG. 22 is a schematic exploded front view showing a positionalrelationship between guide projections of the linear guide and othercomponents;

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the light amount adjustingdevice;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective view of the light amount adjustingdevice;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged perspective view of a base body;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged perspective view of the base body;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing, along with FIG. 28, a procedure formolding the base body, FIG. 26 being an enlarged perspective viewshowing a state in which a first mold and a second mold are abutted toform cavities and resin melts are charged into the cavities;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in which the firstmold and the second mold are separated from each other to form the basebody;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a cover plateand shutter blades;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged perspective view of a light amount adjustingblade;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state before a secondseparator is mounted on the base body;

FIG. 32 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in which thesecond separator is mounted on the base body;

FIG. 33 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the light amountadjusting blade;

FIG. 34 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a movable frameand a base frame;

FIG. 35 is a schematic enlarged front view showing a positionalrelationship among the movable frame, the base frame, and othercomponents;

FIG. 36 is an enlarged sectional view of the lens barrel in a wide angleposition; and

FIG. 37 is an enlarged sectional view of the lens barrel in a telephotoposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

The following describes an embodiment in which the present invention isapplied to a still camera. It should be noted that the scope to whichthe present invention is applicable is not limited to still cameras, butincludes, e.g., video cameras and various types of image captureapparatuses incorporated into other equipment.

In the following description, front/rear/up/down/left/right directionsdenote such directions as viewed from a photographer during image takingwith a still camera. Accordingly, an object side is referred to as beingthe front, whereas a photographer side is referred to as being the rear.

It is also noted that the front/rear/up/down/left/right directions areindicated merely for purposes of illustration, and thus the carrying outof the present invention is not restricted by these directions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an image capture apparatus 1 includes anapparatus body 2, and a lens barrel 3 supported by the apparatus body 2so as to be movable in a front-rear direction (an optical-axisdirection). The lens barrel 3 is of a so-called retractable type, whichis accommodated in the apparatus body 2 (see FIG. 1) e.g., duringnon-image taking, whereas it projects frontward from the apparatus body2 (see FIG. 2), e.g., during image taking.

Having such a retractable type lens barrel 3, it is possible tocompatibly realize miniaturization (thickness reduction) duringnon-image taking and the securing of good optical performance duringimage taking.

The apparatus body 2 is formed such that various necessary componentsare arranged outside and inside a horizontally elongated, flat housing 4(see FIGS. 1 to 3), for example.

On a front surface of the apparatus body 2 are a flash 5 and aviewfinder window 6. On a top surface of the apparatus body 2 are ashutter button 7, a mode switching dial 8, and a power button 9. On aside surface (right side surface) of the apparatus body 2 are a batterycover 10, which, through its opening/closing, allows a battery, notshown, to be set into/removed from the apparatus body 2. On a rearsurface of the apparatus body 2 are a viewfinder 11, a zoom switch 12, adisplay screen 13, operation buttons 14, 14, . . . , and a terminalcover 15. Inside the terminal cover 15 are a power terminal,input/output terminals, and the like, all of which are not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the lens barrel 3 includes a fixed member 16,a fixed ring 17 fixed to the fixed member 16, a cam cylinder 18rotatably supported by the fixed ring 17, and a first movable unit 19supported by the cam cylinder 18 so as to be movable in the front-reardirection (optical-axis direction).

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fixed member 16 has a frontward/rearwardfacing, approximately plate-shaped board portion 20, and a mountingprojection 21 projecting frontward from a lower end portion of the boardportion 20.

An arrangement hole 20 a passing through in the front-rear direction isformed in an approximate midsection of the board portion 20. A frontwardopened bearing recess 20 b is formed in a right end portion at aposition closer to a lower end of the board portion 20. A frontwardprojecting guiding shaft portion 20 c is provided at a position closerto a lower end of an approximate midsection as viewed in a left-rightdirection of the board portion 20.

An guiding shaft 22 is mounted onto the bearing recess 20 b of the boardportion 20.

A spring hooking strip 21 a is provided on a front end portion of themounting projection 21.

A focus motor unit 23 is mounted on the mounting projection 21. Thefocus motor unit 23 has a motor 24, a motor mounting plate 25, aleadscrew 26 serving as a motor shaft of the motor 24, and a nut member27 screwed onto the leadscrew 26.

In the focus motor unit 23, the motor mounting plate 25 is mounted ontothe mounting projection 21.

The focus motor unit 23 moves a focus moving unit 28 in the front-reardirection, i.e., in the optical-axis direction. The focus moving unit 28is formed such that a focus lens group 30 is mounted on a holding arm29.

The holding arm 29 has an annular lens mounting portion 31, aplate-shaped arm portion 32 projecting diagonally to the lower rightfrom the lens mounting portion 31, and a supported cylindrical portion33 projecting frontward from the arm portion 32.

The focus lens group 30 is mounted onto the lens mounting portion 31.

A spring hooking strip 32 a is provided at a position closer to a lowerend of the arm portion 32. A C-shaped supported strip 32 b is providedon the arm portion 32.

The focus moving unit 28 is movably supported by the fixed member 16, bythe supported cylindrical portion 33 being slidably supported by theguiding shaft 22 and by the supported strip 32 b being slidablysupported by the guiding shaft portion 20 c. With the focus unit 28supported by the fixed member 16, a part of the arm portion 32 is fixedby the nut member 27 of the focus motor unit 23, and a tension coilspring 34 is supported between the spring hooking strip 21 a of thefixed member 16 and the spring hooking strip 32 a of the focus movingunit 28. Accordingly, the focus moving unit 28 is urged frontward by thetension coil spring 34.

When the motor 24 of the focus motor unit 23 is started to rotate theleadscrew 26, the nut member 27 is moved in a direction responsive to adirection of rotation of the leadscrew 26, and the focus moving unit 28is moved in the optical-axis direction, while guided by the guidingshaft 22 and the guiding shaft portion 20 c.

An imager unit 35 is mounted onto the fixed member 16 from the rear (seeFIG. 4). The imager unit 35 has a holding frame member 36, and an imagerdevice 37, e.g., a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), held by the holdingframe member 36. In the imager unit 35, the holding frame member 36 ismounted onto the fixed member 16, and the imager device 37 is arrangedin the arrangement hole 20 a of the fixed member 16 (see FIG. 6).

Photo interrupters 38 are mounted at predetermined positions of thefixed member 16 (see FIG. 4). The photo interrupters 38 perform positiondetection of the focus moving unit 28 in the optical-axis direction.

The fixed ring 17 is mounted onto the fixed member 16 from the front(see FIGS. 4 and 5). The fixed ring has an approximately cylinder-shapedcylindrical base portion 39, a unit pressing portion 40 projecting froma lower end portion on a right end side of the cylindrical base portion39, and a case mounting portion 41 projecting from a lower end portionon a left end side of the cylindrical base portion 39.

In the cylindrical base portion 39, a gear arrangement hole, not shown,is formed at a position corresponding to the case mounting portion 41.As shown in FIG. 9, on an inner surface of the cylindrical base portion39, linear inclined guiding grooves 39 a, 39 a, 39 a and a rotationguiding groove 39 b are formed continuously. The linear inclined guidinggrooves 39 a, 39 a, 39 a are spaced apart in a circumferentialdirection, and inclined in the front-rear direction. The rotationguiding groove 39 b continues from front end portions of the linearinclined guiding grooves 39 a, 39 a, 39 a, and extend in thecircumferential direction.

Rearward opened linear guide groove 39 c, 39 c, 39 c extending in thefront-rear direction are also formed in the inner surface of thecylindrical base portion 39.

The case mounting portion 41 has a frontward/rearward facing frontsurface portion 41 a positioned at a front end, and a leftward/rightwardfacing side surface portion 41 b continuing from the front surfaceportion 41 a. The case mounting portion 41 is formed so as to be openeddownward and rearward.

With the fixed ring 17 mounted on the fixed member 16, the guiding shaft22 is pressed from the front by the unit pressing portion 40, and thefocus motor unit 23 is covered from the front.

With the fixed ring 17 mounted on the fixed member 16, an axiallyelongated transmission gear 42 is rotatably supported between the frontsurface portion 41 a of the case mounting portion 41 and the fixedmember 16 (see FIG. 10). The transmission gear 42 is arranged in thegear arrangement hole of the cylindrical base portion 39.

A case body 43 is mounted onto the case mounting portion 41 of the fixedring 17 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the case body43 is formed such that a front half 44 and a rear half 45 are coupledwith each other.

In the front half 44, an upward facing mounting step 44 a is formed at aposition closer to an upper end of a front surface thereof. In the fronthalf 44, a frontward opened, indented sensor mounting portion 44 b isalso provided. In the front half 44, a sensor arrangement hole 44 cpassing through in the front-rear direction is further formed in thesensor mounting portion 44 b.

In the rear half 45, amounting projection 45 a projecting rearward froma rear surface thereof is provided. In the rear half 45, a rearwardopened, indented sensor mounting portion 45 b is also provided. In therear half 45, a sensor arrangement hole 45 c passing through in thefront-rear direction is further formed in the sensor mounting portion 45b.

A motor 46 is mounted onto the case body 43, and light-shielding blades47 and a worm 48 are fixed to a motor shaft of the motor 46 (see FIG.4). With the motor 46 arranged inside the case body 43, the motor shaft,the light-shielding blades 47, and the worm 48 are arranged inside thecase body 43.

A transmission gear group, not shown, is arranged inside the case body43. The transmission gear group is meshed with the worm 48 and thetransmission gear 42.

When the motor 46 is started, the light-shielding blades 47 and the worm48 are rotated along with the rotation of the motor shaft, and a drivingforce is transmitted to the transmission gear 42 from the worm 48 viathe transmission gear group.

A pair of sensors 49, 49, e.g., photo interrupters, are mounted onto thecase body 43. Each sensor 49 is formed such that a detecting body 49 bis mounted on a substrate 49 a. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the sensors49, 49 are mounted by amounting flat spring 50, with the substrates 49a, 49 a pressed from outside toward the sensor mounting portions 44 b,45 b of the case body 43, and with the detecting bodies 49 b, 49 barranged into the sensor arrangement holes 44 c, 45 c, respectively.

The mounting flat spring 50 is formed such that an elongated,plate-shaped member is bent into a predetermined shape, and is formed ofa lowermost, upward/downward facing base surface portion 51, sensorpressing portions 52, 53 projecting upward from both front and rear endedges of the base surface portion 51, an engaging portion 54 projectingrearward from an upper edge of the front-side sensor pressing portion52, a pressed portion 55 projecting upward from a rear edge of theengaging portion 54, a joining portion 56 projecting rearward from anupper edge of the rear-side sensor pressing portion 53, pressed portions57 projecting upward from a rear edge of the joining portion 56, and anengaging portion 58 projecting frontward from an upper edge of eachpressed portion 57.

Embossed protrusions 52 a, 53 a protruding in directions nearing eachother are provided on the sensor pressing portions 52, 53, respectively.

The mounting flat spring 50 is mounted onto the case body 43 by beingelastically deformed such that the sensor pressing portions 52, 53 arewidened in directions moving away from each other, and then elasticallyreturned. With the mounting flat spring 50 mounted on the case body 43,the portions other than the pressed portions 55, 57 are brought intosurface contact with external surfaces of the case body 43. At thisinstance, the substrates 49 a, 49 a of the sensors 49, 49 arranged inthe sensor mounting portions 44 b, 45 b of the case body 43 are fixedwhile pressed by protrusions 52 a, 53 a of the mounting flat spring 50from outside, respectively, thereby preventing the sensors 49, 49 fromdropping off the case body 43.

In the mounting flat spring 50, the mounting projection 45 a of the casebody 43 is sandwiched between the joining portion 56 and the engagingportion 58, and the pressed portions 55, 57 are pressed by the fixedring 17 and the fixed member 16 in directions nearing each other,respectively. At this instance, gaps 59, 60 are formed between thepressed portion 55 and a front surface of the front half 44 and betweenthe pressed portion 57 and the mounting projection 45 a of the rear half45, respectively.

When the motor 46 is rotated, the light-shielding blades 47 are rotated,and the sensors 49, 49 detect switching between light shielding andlight transmission along with the rotation of the light-shielding blades47, thereby detecting the rotational direction and number of revolutionsof the motor 46.

As described above, in the image capture apparatus 1, it is configuredto fix the sensors 49, 49 to the case body 43 by the mounting flatspring 50 which has the sensor pressing portions 52, 53 for pressing thesensors 49, 49, respectively, the pressed portions 55, 57 which arepressed by the fixed ring 17 and the fixed member 16 in such directionsas to near each other from outer surfaces, respectively, and theengaging portions 54, 58 which engage with the case body 43 in adirection orthogonal to the directions in which the pressed portions 55,57 are pressed.

Accordingly, there is no need to use an adhesive for fixing the sensors49, 49 to the case body 43, thereby avoiding occurrence ofinconveniences, such as splashing and infiltration of the adhesive tolenses and other components during application.

In addition, time for hardening the adhesive and a special tool forapplying the adhesive are not needed, thereby realizing reductions inthe assembling time and cost.

Furthermore, maintenance work, such as the exchanging of the sensors 49,49, can be readily performed by removing the mounting flat spring 50from the case body 43, thereby improving maintainability.

Furthermore, in the image capture apparatus 1, the pressed portions 55,57 are pressed by the fixed ring 17 and the fixed member 16, both ofwhich sandwich the case body 43 therebetween, respectively, so that themembers on which the case body 43 is mounted are shared as members forpressing the pressed portions 55, 57, thereby reducing the number ofcomponents by the sharing of components.

Furthermore, the pressing protrusions 52 a, 53 a protruding toward thesensors 49, 49 are provided on the sensor pressing portions 52, 53 ofthe mounting flat spring 50, respectively, thereby facilitating theholding of the sensors 49, 49 with respect to the case body 43.

In addition, the mounting flat spring 50 is mounted onto the case body43 such that the gaps 59, 60 are formed between the pressed portions 55,57 of the mounting flat spring 50 and outer surfaces of the case body43, thereby facilitating the mounting of the mounting flat spring 50onto the case body 43.

The cam cylinder 18 is supported by the fixed ring 17 so as to bemovable in the front-rear direction as well as rotatable in thecircumferential direction (see FIGS. 4, 6, and 9).

The cam cylinder 18 is approximately annular in shape, and has a rackgear 18a on part of a rear end portion of an outer circumferentialsurface thereof. On the outer circumferential surface of the camcylinder 18, protrusions 18 b, 18 b, 18 b to be guided are provided soas to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

In an inner circumferential surface of the cam cylinder 18, a supportgroove 18 c extending in the circumferential direction is formed at arear end portion thereof. In the inner circumferential surface of thecam cylinder 18, guide portions 18 d, 18 d, 18 d and guiding portions 18e, 18 e, 18 e, each having a predetermined shape, are formed. The guideportions 18 d, 18 d, 18 d and guiding portions 18 e, 18 e, 18 e each aregroove-shaped.

The cam cylinder 18 is movably supported by the fixed ring 17, by theprotrusions 18 b, 18 b, l8 b being slidably engaged with the linearinclined guiding grooves 39 a, 39 a, 39 a or the rotation guiding groove39 b. The cam cylinder 18 moves in the front-rear direction whilerotating when the protrusions 18 b, 18 b, 18 b slide along the linearinclined guiding grooves 39 a, 39 a, 39 a, whereas the cam cylinder 18rotates without moving in the front-rear direction when the protrusions18 b, 18 b, 18 b slide along the rotation guiding groove 39 b.

With the cam cylinder 18 supported by the fixed ring 17, the rack gear18 a is meshed with the transmission gear 42 which is rotatablysupported between the fixed member 16 and the fixed ring 17.Accordingly, when the motor 46 held by the case body 43 is rotated, itsdriving force is transmitted to the rack gear 18 a via the transmissiongear group and the transmission gear 42, to rotate the cam cylinder 18in a direction responsive to the rotational direction of the motor 46,whereby the cam cylinder 18 either moves in the front-rear directionwhile rotating, or rotates, with respect to the fixed ring 17.

The fixed ring 17 supports a linear guide 61 such that the guide 61 ismovable in the front-rear direction. The linear guide 61 is formed suchthat an annular portion 62 is integrated with guide projections 63, 63,63 which project frontward from the annular portion 62.

The annular portion 62 is provided with outward projecting projections62 a, 62 a, 62 c which are to be guided and spaced apart in thecircumferential direction. The annular portion 62 is also provided withoutward projecting supported projecting strips 62 b, 62 b, 62 b whichare spaced apart in the circumferential direction on a front side of theprojections 62 a, 62 a, 62 c, respectively.

The guide projections 63, 63, 63 have frontward and outward openedsliding grooves 63 a, 63 a, 63 a formed therein, respectively.

The linear guide 61 is supported by the fixed ring 17 so as to bemovable in the front-rear direction, by the projections 62 a, 62 a, 62 abeing slidably engaged with the linear guiding grooves 39 c, 39 c, 39 c,respectively. The linear guide 61 is rotatable relative to the camcylinder 18 by the supported projecting strips 62 b, 62 b, 62 b beingslidably engaged with the support groove 18 c of the cam cylinder 18.Accordingly, when the cam cylinder 18 is rotated, since the projections62 a, 62 a, 62 c of the linear guide 61 are slidably engaged with thelinear guiding grooves 39 c, 39 c, 39 c, respectively, the cam cylinder18 is rotated with respect to the linear guide 61, whereas when the camcylinder 18 is moved in the front-rear direction with respect to thefixed ring 17, the linear guide 61 is moved in the front-rear directionintegrally with the cam cylinder 18.

An accessory ring 64 is mounted onto a front half of the fixed ring 17(see FIGS. 4 and 6).

The cam cylinder 18 supports a second movable unit 65 (see FIG. 6). Thesecond movable unit 65 includes an intermediate movable unit 66 and alight amount adjusting device 67 mounted on the intermediate movableunit 66.

The intermediate movable unit 66 is formed such that required componentsare mounted on or supported by a base frame 68 (see FIGS. 13 through16).

The base frame 68 has a circular plate portion 69, and supported surfaceportions 70, 70, 70 provided on an outer circumferential portion of thecircular plate portion 69. The supported surface portions 70, 70, 70 areprovided so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

A light-passing opening 69 a passing through in the front-rear directionis formed at a midsection of the circular plate portion 69. Rearwardprojecting mounting frame portions 69 b, 69 b, 69 b are provided alongan outer edge of the circular plate portion 69. The mounting frameportions 69 b, 69 b, 69 b are spaced apart in the circumferentialdirection and positioned between adjacent ones of the supported surfaceportions 70, 70, 70, respectively.

On a front surface of the circular portion 69, bearing portions 69 c, 69c are provided below the light-passing opening 69 a, and a bearingportion 69 d is provided above the light-passing opening 69 a. Thebearing portions 69 c, 69 c are spaced apart in the left-rightdirection.

On the outer circumferential surface of the circular plate portion 69,guided portions 69 e, 69 e, 69 e are provided which are spaced apart inthe circumferential direction and project outward.

In the supported surface portions 70, 70, 70 of the base frame 68,supported groove portions 70 a, 70 a, 70 a are formed which extend inthe front-rear direction, respectively.

Flat yokes 71, 71, 71 are fixed to the circular portion 69 with, e.g.,an adhesive. The yokes 71, 71 are fixed to a position closer to a lowerend and to a position closer to a left end on the front surface of thecircular portion 69, respectively. Driving magnets 72, 72 are fixed ontofront surfaces of the yokes 71, 71, respectively.

On the front surface side of the base frame 68, a first correctingmoving frame 75 is supported so as to be movable in the left-rightdirection (a first direction) via a first guide shaft 73 and a firstsub-guide shaft 74 (see FIGS. 13 and 14).

The first correcting moving frame 75 has a light-passing hole 75 aformed at a midsection thereof. The first correcting moving frame 75 isprovided with a first shaft support portion 76 at a lower end portionthereof, first sub-guide support portions 77, 77 at an upper end portionthereof, a second shaft support portion 78 at a left end portionthereof, and second sub-shaft support portions 79, 79 at a right endportion thereof. The first shaft support portion 76 has a firstthroughhole 76a formed therein which passes through in the left-rightdirection, and the second shaft support portion 78 has a secondthroughhole 78 a formed therein which passes through in an up-downdirection.

As shown in FIG. 17, any of a center P of the first throughhole 76 a ofthe first shaft support portion 76, a center Q of the second throughhole78 a of the second shaft support portion 78, and a center R of holes ofthe first sub-shaft support portions 77, 77 is positioned insubstantially the same plane which is orthogonal to an optical axis, andthe second sub-shaft support portions 79, 79 are positioned furtherfrontward than the first shaft support portion 76, the second shaftsupport portion 78, and the first sub-shaft support portions 77, 77.

The first guide shaft 73 is slidably inserted into the first throughhole76 a of the first shaft support portion 76. The first sub-guide shaft 74is fixed to the first sub-shaft support portions 77, 77. A second guideshaft 80 is fixed to the second throughhole 78 a of the second shaftsupport portion 78 by, e.g., force fit. A second sub-guide shaft 81 isfixed to the second sub-shaft support portions 79, 79.

The first correcting moving frame 75 is supported by the base frame 68movably in the left-right direction, by both end portions of the firstguide shaft 73 being fixed to the bearing portions 69 c, 69 c, and amiddle part of the first sub-guide shaft 74 being slidably supported bythe bearing portion 69 d. Accordingly, the first correcting moving frame75 is moved in the left-right direction while sliding with respect tothe first guide shaft 73.

As described above, the center P of the first throughhole 76 a of thefirst shaft support portion 76 and the center Q of the secondthroughhole 78 a of the second shaft support portion 78 are positionedin substantially the same plane which is orthogonal to the optical axis,so that a shaft center of the first guide shaft 73 and a shaft center ofthe second guide shaft 80 inserted into these throughholes,respectively, are also positioned in substantially the same plane whichis orthogonal to the optical axis.

The first correcting moving frame 75 is formed by injection molding, andthe second shaft support portion 78 is formed by a first mold 200 and asecond mold 300 which are separated in the optical-axis direction (seeFIGS. 18 and 19).

The first mold 200 is provided with rearward projecting throughholeforming projections 201, 201, . . . , which are spaced apart in theup-down direction.

The second mold 300 is provided with frontward projecting throughholeforming projections 301, 301, . . . , which are spaced apart in theup-down direction.

The first mold 200 and the second mold 300 are abutted with each otherin the front-rear direction, to form cavities 400, 400, . . . (see FIG.18). At this instance, the throughhole forming projections 201, 201, . .. of the first mold 200 are brought into contact with the throughholeforming projections 301, 301, . . . of the second mold 300 so as toalternate with each other in the up-down direction.

Resin melts 500, 500, . . . are charged into the cavities 400, 400, . .. , and after the resin melts 500, 500, . . . harden, the first mold 200is separated from the second mold 300, thereby forming the firstcorrecting moving frame 75 (see FIG. 19). The second throughhole 78 a ofthe second shaft support portion 78 is formed into a so-called“pinch-off” shape by the throughhole forming projections 201, 201, andthe throughhole forming projections 301, 301, which are in contact witheach other alternately.

In this way, the second throughhole 78 a of the second shaft supportportion 78 can be easily formed into the pinch-off shape with the firstmold 200 and the second mold 300, thereby facilitating the fabricationof the first correcting moving frame 75 and reducing its manufacturingcost.

In addition, by forming the second throughhole 78 a into the pinch-offshape, the second throughhole 78 a can be formed with high accuracyusing a simple mold configuration.

While an example is disclosed above in which the second throughhole 78 aof the second shaft support portion 78 is formed into the pinch-offshape with the first mold 200 and the second mold 300, the firstthroughhole 76 a of the first shaft support portion 76 may be formedinto a pinch-off shape using two molds. In addition, both the firstthroughhole 76 a and the second throughhole 78 a can be formed into apinch-off shape, each using two molds. Furthermore, the first sub-shaftsupport portions 77, 77 and the second sub-shaft support portions 79, 79can also be formed into a pinch-off shape.

The first correcting moving frame 75 supports a second correcting movingframe 82 such that the second correcting moving frame 82 is movable inthe up-down direction (a second direction) (see FIGS. 14 and 15).

A lens group 83 is mounted in an approximate midsection of the secondcorrecting moving frame 82. The second correcting moving frame 82 isprovided with rearward projecting supported cylindrical portions 82 a,82 a which are spaced apart in the up-down direction at positions closerto a left end, and a rightward projecting supported projection 82 b at aright end portion.

The second correcting moving frame 82 has large openings 82 c, 82 cpassing through in the front-rear direction formed at a left end portionand a bottom end portion, respectively, and has small openings 82 d, 82d formed near the large openings 82 c, 82 c, respectively.

In the second correcting moving frame 82, the supported cylindricalportions 82 a, 82 a are slidably supported by both end portions of thesecond guide shaft 80, and the supported projection 82 b is slidablysupported by a middle part of the second sub-shaft 81. Accordingly, thesecond correcting moving frame 82 is movable in the up-down directionwith respect to the first correcting moving frame 75, and is moved inthe left-right direction integrally with the first correcting movingframe 75 when the first correcting moving frame 75 is moved in theleft-right direction.

With the second correcting moving frame 82 supported by the firstcorrecting moving frame 75, the large openings 82 c, 82 c are positionedon a front side of the driving magnets 72, 72 fixed to the base frame68, respectively.

A circuit board 84 is mounted on a front surface of the secondcorrecting moving frame 82 (see FIGS. 15 and 16). The circuit board 84includes a frontward/rearward facing base surface portion 84 a, and afirst connecting surface portion 84 b projecting from an upper endportion of the base surface portion 84 a.

The base surface portion 84 a is provided with driving coils 85, 85integrally therewith at a lower end portion and a left end portion,respectively. Hall sensors 84 d, 84 d are mounted onto the base surfaceportion 84 a near the driving coils 85, 85, for performing positiondetection of the first correcting moving frame 75 and the secondcorrecting moving frame 82.

Circuit wires, not shown, are formed on the first connecting surfaceportion 84 b, and various circuit wires are connected to the drivingcoils 85, 85.

In the circuit board 84, the base surface portion 84a is mounted on thefront surface of the second correcting moving frame 82 with an adhesiveor the like, and the first connecting surface portion 84 b is connectedto respective power driving circuits, not shown. With the circuit board84 mounted on the front surface of the second correcting moving frame82, the driving coils 85, 85 are positioned inside the large openings 82c, 82 c of the second correcting moving frame 82, and the Hall sensors84 d, 84 d are positioned inside the small openings 82 d, 82 d of thesecond correcting moving frame 82, respectively.

As described above, with the first correcting moving frame 75 supportedby the base frame 68 to which the driving magnets 72, 72 are fixed, withthe second correcting moving frame 82 supported by the first correctingmoving frame 75, and with the circuit board 84 mounted on the secondcorrecting moving frame 82, an approximately L-shaped outer yoke 86 ismounted onto the front surface of the base frame 68 with an adhesive orthe like, thereby forming the intermediate movable unit 66 (see FIG.16).

A blur correction mechanism 87 is formed of the above-mentioned yokes71, 71, driving magnets 72, 72, first correcting moving frame 75, firstguide shaft 73, first sub-guide shaft 74, second guide shaft 80, secondsub-guide shaft 81, second correcting moving frame 82, driving coils 85,85, and outer yoke 86 (see FIG. 13).

When the power driving circuits supply driving currents to the drivingcoils 85, 85 in the blur correction mechanism 87, a thrusting forceoccurs in a predetermined direction by the driving coils 85, 85 and thedriving magnets 72, 72 responsive to the directions of the supplieddriving currents, and by this thrusting force, the first correctingmoving frame 75 and the second correcting moving frame 82 holding thelens group 83 therein are moved integrally in the left-right direction(first direction) while guided by the first guide shaft 73 and the firstsub-guide shaft 74. In addition, by this thrusting force, the secondcorrecting moving frame 82 holding the lens group 83 therein is moved inthe up-down direction (second direction) while guided by the secondguide shaft 80 and the second sub-guide shaft 81. As a result, the lensgroup 83 is moved within a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, therebycorrecting a focal position to prevent image blurring.

It is noted that the magnets 72, 72 also function as magnets forposition-detecting the Hall sensors 84 d, 84 d, and are formed so as toextend in a predetermined direction to face both the driving coils 85,85 as well as the Hall sensors 84 d, 84 d.

When the blurring correcting operation is performed as mentioned above,the second correcting moving frame 82 is slid with respect to both endportions of the second guide shaft 80. Thus, in the blur correctionmechanism 87, it is configured to fix the portion other than both endportions of the second guide shaft 80 to the second shaft supportportion 78 of the first correcting moving frame 75, and to move thesecond correcting moving frame 82 with respect to both end portions ofthe second guide shaft 80, which means gaps for sliding are formed withrespect to the supported cylindrical portions 82 a, 82 a on a side ofboth end portions of the second guide shaft 80. Consequently, play ishard to occur during movement of the second correcting moving frame 82,thereby improving the reliability of the blurring correcting operation.

The light amount adjusting device 67 is mounted on a rear surface sideof the intermediate movable unit 66, and both components form the secondmovable unit 65 (see FIGS. 20 and 21).

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 22, in the second movable unit 65, the supportedgroove portions 70 a, 70 a, 70 a formed in the supported cylindricalportions 70, 70, 70 of the base frame 68 are slidably supported by theguide projections 63, 63, 63 of the linear guide 61, and also the guidedportions 69 e, 69 e, 69 e are slidably supported by the guide portions18 d, 18 d, 18 d of the cam cylinder 18, respectively. Accordingly, thesecond movable unit 65 has its position changed with respect to theguided portions 69 e, 69 e, 69 e by the rotation of the cam cylinder 18,and is moved in the front-rear direction (optical-axis direction) whileguided by the linear guide 61.

It is noted that in the lens barrel 3, the linear guide 61 is notcylinder-shaped as a whole, but is formed of the annular portion 62 andthe plurality of the guide projections 63, 63, 63 projecting from theannular portion 62, thereby facilitating the assembling of the secondmovable unit 65 into the linear guide 61.

With the second movable unit 65 supported by the linear guide 61 asmentioned above, one guide projection 63 of the linear guide 61, i.e.,the guide projection 63 staying off to the lower left (a guideprojection 63A shown in FIG. 22) is positioned between the driving coils85, 85 so as to correspond to each other, as shown in FIG. 22.Accordingly, when the second movable unit 65 is moved in theoptical-axis direction by the rotation of the cam cylinder 18 and whenthe linear guide 61 is moved in the optical-axis direction integrallywith the cam cylinder 18, the driving coils 85, 85 do not interfere withthe guide projection 63A, thereby easily avoiding the interferencebetween the blur correction mechanism 87 and other mechanisms arrangedinside the lens barrel 3, and also realizing the miniaturization of thelens barrel 3.

In addition, in the image capture apparatus 1, it is configured to usethe guide projections 63, 63, 63 of the linear guide 61 as means forguiding the second movable unit 65 in the front-rear direction, and tomove the linear guide 61 in the front-rear direction integrally with thecam cylinder 18. As a result, it is possible to reduce the length of thelens barrel 3 in the optical-axis direction by an amount of the movementof the linear guide 61 in the front-rear direction, compared with, e.g.,a case where a guide shaft fixed inside the lens barrel 3 is used asmeans for guiding the second movable unit 65.

Furthermore, the three circumferentially spaced-apart guide projections63, 63, 63 are provided on the linear guide 61, so that the linear guide61 holds the second movable unit 65 with a large force, therebystabilizing the movement of the second movable unit 65 in theoptical-axis direction.

While an example is disclosed above in which the three circumferentiallyspaced-apart guide projections 63, 63, 63 are provided on the linearguide 61, the number of guide projections 63, 63, 63 is not limited tothree, but may be any plural number.

Furthermore, the linear guide 61 is formed such that the annular portion62 is formed integrally with the guide projections 63, 63, 63, therebyrealizing reductions in the number of components and the manufacturingcost.

Moreover, as described above, in the image capture apparatus 1, thefirst guide shaft 73 and the second guide shaft 80 for guiding the firstcorrecting moving frame 75 in the blur correction mechanism 87 arepositioned in substantially the same plane orthogonal to the opticalaxis, thereby realizing a reduction in the length of the blur correctionmechanism 87 in the optical-axis direction, as well as theminiaturization of the lens barrel 3.

In addition, in the blur correction mechanism 87, it is configured suchthat the first correcting moving frame 75 is slidably supported by thefirst guide shaft 73, and the second guide shaft 80 is fixed to thefirst correcting moving frame 75, so that neither the first guide shaft73 nor the second guide shaft 80 are moved, but only the second guideshaft 80 is moved, during movement of the first correcting moving frame75. Consequently, the longitudinal length of one of the shafts can beshortened by an amount of the movement.

The light amount adjusting device 67 of the second movable unit 65 ismounted on a rear surface side of the base frame 68 (see FIGS. 20 and21).

The light amount adjusting device 67 is formed such that predeterminedmembers are supported by or mounted on a base body 88 (see FIGS. 20, 21,23, and 24).

The base body 88 is formed from a resin material into an approximatelyannular shape, and as shown in FIG. 25, has a frontward opened, shallowattachment recess 90 in a portion other than an outer circumferentialportion 89 on a front surface side. The base body 88 is formed such thatthe portion on which the attachment recess 90 is formed is thinner thanthe outer circumferential portion 89.

A rearward opened, groove-shaped notch 88 a is formed in part of a rearsurface side of the base body 88 to provide a thin-walled portion 88 b(see FIG. 20), and the thin-walled portion 88 b is formed thinner thanother portions.

Engageable catches 89 a, 89 a, 89 a are provided on the outercircumferential portion 89 of the base body 88 so as to be spaced apartin the circumferential direction (see FIGS. 23 and 24). Mountingprojections 89 b, 89 b, 89 b are provided on an outer circumferentialsurface of the base body 88 so as to be spaced apart in thecircumferential direction.

Rearward opened molding holes 89 c, 89 c, 89 c are formed in the outercircumferential portion 89 of the base body 88 (see FIG. 26), and themolding holes 89 c, 89 c, 89 c are spaced apart in the circumferentialdirection. Front end portions of the molding holes 89 c, 89 c, 89 c areformed as mounting grooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d communicating with theattachment recess 90, respectively.

The base body 88 is formed by injection molding, and the molding holes89 c, 89 c, 89 c including the mounting grooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d areformed by a first mold 600 and a second mold 700 which are separatedfrom each other in the optical-axis direction (see FIGS. 27 and 28).

The first mold 600 is provided with rearward projecting mounting grooveforming projections 601, 601, 601.

The second mold 700 is provided with frontward projecting mountinggroove forming projections 701, 701, 701.

The first mold 600 and the second mold 700 are abutted with each otherin the front-rear direction, to form cavities 800, 800, . . . (see FIG.27). At this instance, the mounting groove forming projections 601, 601,601 of the first mold 600 are brought into partial contact with themounting groove forming projections 701, 701, 701 of the second mold700.

Resin melts 900, 900, . . . are charged into the cavities 800, 800, . .. , and after the resin melts 900, 900, . . . harden, the first mold 600is separated from the second mold 700, thereby forming the base body 88(see FIG. 28). The molding holes 89 c, 89 c, 89 c including the mountinggrooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d are formed into the so-called ∓pinch-off” shapeby the mounting groove forming projections 601, 601, 601 and themounting groove forming projections 701, 701, 701 which are in contactwith each other.

Since the molding holes 89 c, 89 c, 89 c including the mounting grooves89 d, 89 d, 89 d can be formed easily into the pinch-off shape by thefirst mold 600 and the second mold 700 in this way, it is possible tofacilitate the fabrication of the base body 88 and to reduce itsmanufacturing cost.

In addition, by forming the molding holes 89 c, 89 c, 89 c including themounting grooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d into the pinch-off shape, the mountinggrooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d can be formed with high accuracy using a simplemold configuration.

The attachment recess 90 has a large throughhole 90 a formed therein(see FIG. 25). The attachment recess 90 is provided with a frontwardprojecting filter rotating center shaft 90 b, and frontward projectingshutter rotating center shafts 90 c, 90 d at positions around thethroughhole 90 a. The attachment recess 90 has arcuate throughholes 90e, 90 f formed therein which pass through in the front-rear direction.

The filter rotating center shaft 90 b and the shutter rotating centershafts 90 c, 90 d are positioned approximately opposite to each otherwith the throughhole 90 a therebetween. The shutter rotating centershafts 90 c, 90 d are positioned so as to be spaced apart in thecircumferential direction. The throughhole 90 e is positioned near thefilter rotating center shaft 90 b, and the throughhole 90 f ispositioned between the shutter rotating center shafts 90 c, 90 d.

The base body 88 is provided with frontward projecting, arrangement stepportions 90 g, 90 g, 90 g along an outer circumferential portion of itsattachment recess 90 so as to be spaced apart in the circumferentialdirection.

A cover plate 91, a first separator 92, and a second separator 93 aremounted on a front surface side of the base body 88 (see FIG. 24).

The cover plate 91 is formed from, e.g., a metallic material, andincludes a cover portion 94 facing in the front-rear direction, andmounted projecting strips 95, 95, 95 projecting rearward from an outercircumferential portion of the cover portion 94.

At a midsection of the cover portion 94, a light-passing hole 94 a isformed which is smaller than the throughhole 90 a of the base body 88.The cover portion 94 is provided with first sliding projections 94 b, 94b and second sliding projections 94 c, 94 c, all of which are embossedrearward (see FIGS. 23 and 29).

The first sliding projections 94 b, 94 b and the second slidingprojections 94 c, 94 c are positioned approximately opposite to eachother with the light-passing hole 94 a therebetween, and are arc-shaped.The first sliding projecting 94 b, 94 b and the second slidingprojections 94 c, 94 c have different amounts of projection, i.e.,embossment, and the first sliding projections 94 b, 94 b are higher thanthe second sliding projections 94 c, 94 c.

Along the outer circumferential portion of the cover portion 94, shaftinsertion holes 94 d, 94 e, 94 f and arcuate insertion holes 94 g, 94 hare formed. The shaft insertion hole 94 d and the shaft insertion holes94 e, 94 f are positioned approximately opposite with the light-passinghole 94 a therebetween, whereas the shaft insertion holes 94 e, 94 f arespaced apart in the circumferential direction. The insertion hole 94 gis positioned near the shaft insertion hole 94 d, whereas the insertionhole 94 h is positioned between the shaft insertion holes 94 e, 94 f.

The first sliding projections 94 b, 94 b are formed into arcs on circleshaving the shaft insertion hole 94 f as their center, whereas the secondsliding projections 94 c, 94 c are formed into arcs on circles havingthe shaft insertion hole 94 e as their center.

At predetermined positions of the cover portion 94, protrusions 94 i, 94i, . . . are provided so as to be embossed rearward.

Engageable holes 95 a, 95 a, 95 a are formed in the mounted projectingstrips 95, 95, 95, respectively.

The first separator 92 is sheet-shaped while made from, e.g., a resinmaterial such as polyethylene terephthalate, or a metallic material, andhas, at a midsection thereof, a hole 92 a which has approximately thesame size as the light-passing hole 94 a of the cover plate 91. Along anouter circumferential portion of the first separator 92, shaft insertionholes 92 b, 92 c, 92 d and arcuate insertion holes 92 e, 92 f areformed. The shaft insertion hole 92 b and the shaft insertion holes 92c, 92 d are positioned approximately opposite to each other with thehole 92 a therebetween, and the shaft insertion hole 92 c, 92 d arespaced apart in the circumferential direction. The insertion hole 92 eis positioned near the shaft insertion hole 92 b, and the insertion hole92 f is positioned between the shaft insertion holes 92 c, 92 d.

The second separator 93 is sheet-shaped while made from, e.g., a resinmaterial such as polyethylene terephthalate, or a metallic material, andhas, at a midsection thereof, a hole 93 a which has approximately thesame size as the light-passing hole 94 a of the cover plate 91. Along anouter circumferential portion of the second separator 93, shaftinsertion holes 93 b, 93 c and arcuate insertion holes 93 d, 93 e areformed. The shaft insertion hole 93 b and the shaft insertion hole 93 care positioned approximately opposite to eachother with the hole 93 atherebetween. The insertion holes 93 d, 93 e are positioned near theshaft insertion holes 93 b, 93 c, respectively.

Along the outer circumferential portion of the second separator 93,outward projecting mounting projections 93 f, 93 f, 93 f are provided soas to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

The base body 88 rotatably supports shutter blades 96, 97 used as firstlight amount adjusting blades and a light amount adjusting blade 98provided as a second light amount adjusting blade.

The shutter blades 96, 97 are formed from a sheet-shaped material, andhave shaft insertion holes 96 a, 97 a, and operation holes 96 b, 97 bwhich are elongated in one direction, respectively. These shaftinsertion hole and operation hole are formed at one end portion of eachof the shutter blades 96, 97.

As shown in FIG. 30, the light amount adjusting blade 98 is formed suchthat sheet members 100, 100 are, e.g., stuck onto both surfaces of alight reducing filter 99. The sheet members 100, 100 have circular holes100 a, 100 a formed therein, each having a diameter larger than the hole92 a of the first separator 92. Accordingly, in the light amountadjusting blade 98, the light reducing filter 99 is exposed to positionscorresponding to the circular holes 100 a, 100 a. AND (Neutral Density)filter may be used as the light reducing filter 99.

In the light amount adjusting blade 98, a shaft insertion hole 98 a, andan operation hole 98 b which is elongated in one direction, are formedat one end portion thereof (see FIG. 23).

The second separator 93 is mounted while arranged on the attachmentrecess 90 of the base body 88, by the second separator 93 beingelastically deformed such that the whole body thereof is bent (see FIG.31) and elastically returned, to insert the mounting projections 93 f,93 f, 93 f into the mounting grooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d (see FIG. 32). Thesecond separator 93, as mounted on the base body 88, comes in surfacecontact with a front surface of the attachment recess 90 (see FIG. 33).At this instance, the filter rotating center shaft 90 b and the shutterrotating center shaft 90 c of the base body 88 are inserted into theshaft insertion holes 93 b, 93 c of the second separator 93,respectively. The shutter rotating center shaft 90 c is positionedimmediately outside the second separator 93.

The light a mount adjusting blade 98 is rotatably supported on a frontsurface side of the second separator 93 by the base body 88, by thefilter rotating center shaft 90 b of the base body 88 being insertedinto the shaft insertion hole 98 a, and using the filter rotating centershaft 90 b as a fulcrum.

With the light amount adjusting blade 98 supported by the base body 88,the first separator 92 is mounted while arranged on the arrangement stepportions 90 g, 90 g, 90 g of the base body 88. Accordingly, the lightamount adjusting blade 98 is rotatable while sliding between the firstseparator 92 and the second separator 93.

The light amount adjusting blade 98 has a three-sheet configuration withthe sheet members 100, 100 stuck onto both surfaces of the lightreducing filter 99 as mentioned above, thereby preventing the lightreducing filter 99 from being damaged or broken during rotation betweenthe first separator 92 and the second separator 93.

While an example is disclosed above in which a ND filter is used as thelight amount adjusting blade 98, the light amount adjusting blade 98 maynot necessarily be a ND filter, but may be an iris blade whose aperturediameter is smaller than that of the hole 92 a of the first separator92, or may be a combination of an iris blade and a ND filter.

With the first separator 92 mounted on the base body 88, the shutterblades 96, 97 are rotatably supported by the base body 88. The shutterblades 96, 97 are rotatably supported by the base body 88 with the onepartially overlapping the other, by the shutter rotating center shafts90 c, 90 d of the base body 88 being inserted into the shaft insertionholes 96 a, 98 a, and using the shutter rotating center shafts 90c, 90 das fulcrums, respectively.

With the shutter blades 96, 97 supported by the base body 88, the coverplate 91 is mounted onto the base body 88. The coverplate 91 is mountedonto the base body 88 by the engageable catches 89 a, 89 a, 89 a beingengaged with the engageable holes 95 a, 95 a, 95 a of the mountedprojecting strips 95, 95, 95. Accordingly, the shutter blades 95, 97 arerotatable between the cover plate 91 and the first separator 92.

At this instance, the projections 94 i, 94 i, . . . of the cover plate91 come in contact with a front surface of the first separator 92,thereby ensuring moving spaces of the shutter blades 96, 97 between thecover plate 91 and the first separator 92. It is noted that theprojections 94 i, 94 i, . . . are provided at positions off moving lociof the shutter blades 96, 97.

In addition, as mentioned above, the first sliding projections 94 b, 94b and the second sliding projections 94 c, 94 c of the cover plate 91are formed to have different heights, and the shutter blade 97 is slidalong the first sliding projections 94 b, 94 b, and the shutter blade 96is slid along the second sliding projections 94 c, 94 c.

In this way, in the light amount adjusting device 67, the first slidingprojections 94 b, 94 b and the second sliding projections 94 c, 94 c ofthe cover plate 91 are formed to have different heights, so that theshutter blade 96 and the shutter blade 97 can be held at positionsdifferent in a thickness direction. Consequently, the shutter blades 96,97 are hard to interfere with each other during rotations, therebyrealizing their smooth operations.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the first sliding projections 94 b, 94b are formed into arcs on circles having the shaft insertion hole 94 fas their center, and the second sliding projections 94 c, 94 c areformed into arcs on circles having the shaft insertion hole 94 e astheir center, so that the frictional resistances of the shutter blades96, 97 to the second sliding projections 94 c, 94 c and the firstsliding projections 94 b, 94 b during rotations are hard to change,thereby realizing the smooth operations of the shutter blades 96, 97.

It is noted that in the light amount adjusting device 67, it isconfigured to arrange the light amount adjusting blade 98 between thefirst separator 92 and the second separator 93, and to arrange theshutter blades 96, 97 between the first separator 92 and the cover plate91 having the first sliding projections 94 b, 94 b and the secondsliding projections 94 c, 94 c.

In this way, by arranging the shutter blades 96, 97 on a side wherefrictional resistances are small, the operations of the shutter blades96, 97 requiring accurate rotations are made smooth, thereby improvingthe reliability of operations performed in the lens barrel 3.

A first actuator 101 and a second actuator 102 are mounted onto a rearsurface of the base body 88 (see FIG. 23).

The first actuator 101 has a yoke member 103, and a coil 104, and adriving arm 106 which are held by the yoke member 103. The driving arm106 includes a base portion 106 a and an arm portion 106 b projectingfrontward from the base portion 106 a. A magnetized magnet 105 is heldby the base portion 106 a of the driving arm 106 so as to be integraltherewith.

The second actuator 102 has a yoke member 107, and a coil 108 and adriving arm 110 which are held by the yoke member 107. The driving arm110 includes a base portion 110, and an arm portion 110 b projectingfrontward from the base portion 110. A magnetized magnet 109 is held bythe base portion 110 of the driving arm 110 so as to be integraltherewith.

The first actuator 101 and the second actuator 102 are operated suchthat thrusts occur between the coils 104, 108 and the magnets 105, 109responsive to currents flowing through the coils 104, 108, and thesethrusts rotate the driving arms 106, 110 responsive to the directions ofthe currents flowing through the coils 104, 108, respectively.

The first actuator 101 and the second actuator 102 are mounted onto thebase body 88 at positions of the base body 88 which are spaced part inthe circumferential direction, while pressed by a pressing plate 111from the rear. The pressing plate 111 is approximately U-shaped, and isfixed to the base body 88 by, e.g., screwing. The pressing plate 111 isfixed to a portion other than the thin-walled portion 88 b of the basebody 88 (see FIGS. 20 and 21).

With the first actuator 101 and the second actuator 102 mounted on thebase body 88, the arm portion 106 of the driving arm 106 is insertedinto holes, in order of the insertion hole 90 f of the base body 88, theinsertion hole 93 e of the second separator 93, the insertion hole 92 fof the first separator 92, the operation holes 96 b, 97 b of the shutterblades 96, 97, and the insertion hole 94 h of the cover plate 91,whereas the arm portion 110 b of the driving arm 110 is inserted intoholes, in order of the insertion hole 90 e of the base body 88, theinsertion hole 93 d of the second separator 93, the operation hole 98 bof the light amount adjusting blade 98, the insertion hole 92 e of thefirst separator 92, and the insertion hole 94 g of the cover plate 91.

When the driving arm 106 is rotated by the driving of the first actuator101, opening edges of the operation holes 96 b, 97 b are pressed by thearm portion 106 b, and the shutter blades 96, 97 are rotated indirections responsive to the direction of the current flowing throughthe coil 104. When the driving arm 110 is rotated by the driving of thesecond actuator 102, an opening edge of the operation hole 98 b ispressed by the arm portion 110 b, and the light amount adjusting blade98 is rotated in a direction responsive to the direction of the currentflowing through the coil 108.

A wiring board 112 is mounted onto a rear surface of the pressing plate111 (see FIG. 4). The wiring board 112 is connected to the coils 104,108, and has a function of supplying power to the coils 104, 108.

The thus configured light amount adjusting device 67 is mounted onto theintermediate movable unit 66 by the mounting projections 89 b, 89 b, 89b provided along the outer circumferential surface of the base body 88being engaged with the mounting frame portions 69 b, 69 b, 69 b of thebase frame 68, and the second movable unit 65 is formed of theintermediate movable unit 66 and the light amount adjusting device 67.

As described above, in the light amount adjusting device 67, the lightamount adjusting blade 98 is sandwiched between the second separator 93and the first separator 92 which are mounted on the base body 88.Accordingly, the throughhole 90 a of the base body 88 is made largerthan the hole 93 a of the second separator 93, and a member arranged ona rear side of the base body 88, i.e., the holding arm 29 of the focusmoving unit 28 can be moved as far as to a position where the arm 29 isinserted into the throughhole 90 a, by the enlarged size of thethroughhole 90 a (see FIG. 33). Consequently, it is possible to realizea thickness reduction of the lens barrel 3 in the optical-axisdirection.

In addition, the second separator 93 is mounted onto the base body 88 bythe second separator 93 being elastically deformed to insert themounting projections 93 f, 93 f, 93 f into the mounting grooves 89 d, 89d, 89 d formed into the so-called pinch-off shape, thereby facilitatingthe mounting of the second separator 93 onto the base body 88, and alsothe formation of the mounting grooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d.

Furthermore, in the light amount adjusting device 67, the plurality ofthe mounting projections 93 f, 93 f, 93 f, which are mounted whileinserted into the mounting grooves 89 d, 89 d, 89 d of the base body 88,are provided along the outer circumferential portion of the secondseparator 93 so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction,thereby stabilizing the mounting condition of the second separator 93 onthe base body 88.

In addition, in the light amount adjusting device 67, the cover plate 91is made from a metallic material, and the second sliding projections 94c, 94 c and the first sliding projections 94 b, 94 b along which theshutter blades 96, 97 are slid are provided, so that frictional forcesoccurring during operations of the shutter blades 96, 97 are small,thereby improving the reliability of the operations and also reducingpower consumption.

The first movable unit 19 is formed such that a lens group 114 is heldin a moving frame 113 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35,the moving frame 113 includes a frontward/rearward facing, plate-shapedannular portion 115, and a circumferential surface portion 116 providedalong an outer circumferential edge of the annular portion 115. Thecircumferential surface portion 116 projects both frontward and rearwardfrom the annular portion 115.

In the moving frame 113, a frontward opened front-side recess 113 a anda rearward opened rear-side recess 113 b are formed by thecircumferential surface portion 116 being projected frontward andrearward from the annular portion 115.

At a midsection of the annular portion 115, the lens group 114 ismounted via a lens holder 117.

On an outer circumferential surface of the circumferential surfaceportion 116, outward projecting guided portions 116 a, 116 a, 116 a areprovided so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction. On aside further rearward than the annular portion 115 in an innercircumferential surface of the circumferential surface portion 116,inward projecting supported projecting ridges 116 b, 116 b, 116 b areprovided so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction. Thesupported projecting ridges 116 b, 116 b, 116 b are formed so as toextend in the front-rear direction.

On a rear end portion of the circumferential surface portion 116,outward opened insertion notches 116 c, 116 c, 116 c are formed so as tobe spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

In the first movable unit 19, the supported projecting ridges 116 b, 116b, 116 b provided on the inner circumferential surface of thecircumferential surface portion 116 of the moving frame 113 are slidablysupported by the sliding grooves 63 a, 63 a, 63 a of the guideprojections 63, 63, 63 of the linear guide 61, respectively, and alsothe guided portions 116 a, 116 a, 116 a provided on the outercircumferential surface of the circumferential surface portion 116 areslidably supported by the guiding portions 18 e, 18 e, 18 e of the camcylinder 18, respectively. Accordingly, the first movable unit 19 ismoved in the front-rear direction (optical-axis direction) while guidedby the linear guide 61, by having the positions of the guided portions116 a, 116 a, 116 a with respect to the guiding portions 18 e, 18 e, 18e changed by the rotation of the cam cylinder 18.

A lens barrier 118 is mounted on a front surface side of the firstmovable unit 19 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The lens barrier 118 is formed suchthat a pair of opening/closing members 119, 119 is supported by acircular holder 120, and opens/closes a light passage through operationsof the opening/closing members 119, 119. The circular holder 120 isformed such that a front-side member 120 a and a rear-side member 120 bare coupled at the front and the rear thereof, respectively.

In the lens barrier 118, an outer circumferential portion of thecircular holder 120 is mounted on a front surface of the circumferentialsurface portion 116 of the moving frame 113, and the opening/closingmembers 119 are positioned at the front-side recess 113 a of the movingframe 113.

With the lens barrier 118 mounted on the first movable unit 19, anaccessory ring 121 is mounted on a side of outer surfaces of the movingframe 113 and the circular holder 120.

With the lens barrel 3 configured as described above, as shown in FIG.22, the first actuator 101 of the light amount adjusting device 67, thesecond actuator 102 of the light amount adjusting device 67, and the armportion 32 of the holding arm 29 of the focus moving unit 28 arepositioned between adjacent ones of the guide projections 63, 63, 63 ofthe linear guide 61, respectively, as viewed in the optical-axisdirection.

Accordingly, when the light amount adjusting device 67 and the focusmoving unit 28 are moved in the optical-axis direction, the guideprojections 63, 63, 63 of the linear guide 61 for guiding the firstmovable unit 19 and the second movable unit 65 in the optical-axisdirection do not interfere with the first actuator 101, the secondactuator 102, and the holding arm 29, thereby realizing miniaturizationbased on the effective utilization of an arrangement space.

It is noted that the thin-walled portion 88 b is formed on the base body88 of the second movable unit 65, and also the pressing plate 111 isapproximately U-shaped and fixed to the portion other than thethin-walled portion 88 b of the base body 88 (see FIG. 21), and when theholding arm 29 is moved frontward, the arm portion 32 is inserted intothe notch 88 a for forming the thin-walled portion 88 b. Accordingly,the second movable unit 65 and the fixed member 16 for supporting thefocus moving unit 28 can be arranged close to each other, therebyrealizing a thickness reduction of the lens barrel 3 in the optical-axisdirection.

In addition, in the optical-axis direction, one guide projection 63 (theguide projection 63A shown in FIG. 22) of the linear guide 61 ispositioned between the driving coils 85, 85 of the blur correctionmechanism 87, so that interference between the driving coils 85, 85 andthe guide projection 63A can be avoided, thereby realizing a furtherminiaturization of the lens barrel 3.

Furthermore, the guide projections 63, 63, 63 of the linear guide 61 areprovided so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction,thereby stabilizing the operations during movements of the first movableunit 19 and the second movable unit 65 in the optical-axis direction.

In the lens barrel 3 configured as described above, a state, in whichany of the first movable unit 19, the second movable unit 65, and thefocus moving unit 28 is positioned at a rear-side moving end, is aretracted position in which the lens barrel 3 is accommodated in theapparatus body 2 (see FIG. 6). In the retracted position, the lensbarrel 3 does not project frontward from the apparatus body 2 (see FIG.1).

When the lens barrel 3 moves from the retracted position (see FIG. 6) toa wide-angle position (see FIG. 36), the came cylinder 18 is movedfrontward while rotating, and the linear guide 61 is moved frontwardintegrally with the cam cylinder 18. While the first movable unit 19 andthe second movable unit 65 are moved frontward by the rotation of thecam cylinder 18, an amount of the frontward movement of the firstmovable unit 19 is large, whereas an amount of the frontward movement ofthe second movable unit 65 is small.

When the lens barrel 3 moves from the wide-angle position to a telephotoposition (see FIG. 37), the cam cylinder 18 is rotated without moving inthe front-rear direction. The second movable unit 65 is moved frontwardby the rotation of the cam cylinder 18 so as to near the first movableunit 19. In the telephoto position, the second movable unit 65 ispositioned inside the rear-side recess 113 b of the first movable unit19 with a part thereof excluded (see FIG. 37), by the guided portions 69e, 69 e, 69 e provided on the base frame 68 being inserted into theinsertion notches 116 c, 116 c, 116 c formed in the moving frame 113,respectively (see FIG. 35).

The focus moving unit 28 is operated by a driving source independent ofthose of the first movable unit 19 and the second movable unit 65, andin each of the states from the retracted position to the telephotoposition, the focusing function is executed by the focus lens group 30being moved in the optical-axis direction.

As described above, the lens group 114 of the first movable unit 19, thelens group 83 of the second movable unit 65, and the focus lens group 30of the focus moving unit 28 are used as movable lens groups which aremoved in the optical-axis direction for zooming and focusing. The lensgroup 114 functions as a first lens group, the lens group 83 functionsas a second lens group, the focus lens group 30 functions as a thirdlens group. It is noted that any of the lens group 114, the lens group83, and the focus lens group 30 may be a combination of a plurality oflenses or may be a single lens.

When the lens barrel 3 moves from the telephoto position to thewide-angle position, the cam cylinder 18 is moved in a directionopposite to the above-mentioned direction without moving in thefront-rear direction, and the second movable unit 65 is moved rearwardso as to be away from the first movable unit 19. When the lens barrel 3moves from the wide-angle position to the retracted position, the camcylinder 18 is moved rearward integrally with the linear guide 61, whilesimilarly rotating in the opposite direction, and the first movable unit19 and the second movable unit 65 are moved rearward.

It is noted that in the base frame 68 of the second movable unit 65, theouter circumferential surface is cut into a plurality of flat portions,and a left-side surface is formed into a first flat surface portion 68Afacing leftward and a lower surface off to the right is formed into asecond flat surface portion 68B facing diagonally to the lower right, asshown in FIG. 35.

By aligning one driving coil 85 with the first flat surface portion 68Asuch that a longitudinal direction of that driving coil 85 is theup-down direction, it is configured to ensure an arrangement spaceadvantageous to the driving coil 85.

In addition, the second flat surface portion 68B is formed so as to bealigned with a right end of the moving stroke of the first correctingmoving frame 75, and one Hall sensor 84d is arranged on a side (rightside) of the second flat surface portion 68B with respect to a nearbydriving coil 85. By arranging the Hall sensor 84 d which is small inoutside shape further toward the second flat surface portion 68B thanthe driving coil 85 which is larger in outside shape, it is configuredto realize the effective utilization of an arrangement space.

Furthermore, in the second movable unit 65, it is configured such thatthe first correcting moving frame 75 is moved in the left-rightdirection while guided by the first guide shaft 73, by the driving coil85 positioned on the left side, and the second correcting moving frame82 is moved in the up-down direction while guided by the second guideshaft 80, by the driving coil 85 positioned on the lower side. At thisinstance, by arranging the driving coil 85 positioned on the left sidefurther toward the first guide shaft 73 than the nearby Hall sensor 84d, and by arranging the driving coil 85 positioned on the lower sidefurther toward the second guide shaft 80 than the nearby Hall sensor 84d, the driving coil 85 for movement in the left-right direction and thefirst guide shaft 73 for guiding in the left-right direction arepositioned close to each other, and also the driving coil 85 formovement in the up-down direction and the second guide shaft 80 forguiding in the up-down direction are positioned close to each other, sothat the first correcting moving frame 75 and the second correctingmoving frame 82 are hard to gouge during movements, thereby realizingtheir smooth operations.

The present application contains subject matter related to JapanesePatent Application No. 2007-004738 filed in the Japanese Patent Officeon Jan. 12, 2007, the entire content of which being incorporated hereinby reference.

Specific shapes and structures of the respective parts and componentsthat have been disclosed in the above embodiment are provided merely asone example for illustrative purposes for ease of understanding ofvarious embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and theseshapes and structures are not to be construed as limiting the technicalscope of the present invention.

1. A light amount adjusting device comprising: a cover plate having alight-passing hole; a first separator being sheet-shaped and having ahole; a second separator being elastically deformable and sheet-shaped,positioned on a side opposite to the cover plate with the firstseparator therebetween, and having a hole; a first light amountadjusting blade being movable between the cover plate and the firstseparator, for adjusting an amount of light; a second light amountadjusting blade being movable between the first separator and the secondseparator, for adjusting the amount of light; a base body to which thecover plate, the first separator, and the second separator are mounted,having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughhole being formedto have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole of the secondseparator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separator to bemounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole; a firstactuator for operating the first light amount adjusting blade; and asecond actuator for operating the second light amount adjusting blade,wherein the base body is formed by injection molding using a first moldand a second mold which are separated in a direction in which thethroughhole passes through, the mounting groove is formed by forming themounting groove forming projections in the first mold and the secondmold, respectively, the mounting groove forming projections projectingin such directions as to come closer to each other, and coming intocontact with each other during abutment of the first and second moldsfor charging resin melt into cavities, and the second separator ismounted onto the base body by allowing the elastically deformed secondseparator to be elastically returned so as to insert at least a part ofan outer circumferential portion thereof into the mounting grooves, bypositioning the second separator further toward the second light amountadjusting blade than the throughhole, and by positioning the hole on aninner side of the throughhole.
 2. The light amount adjusting deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a plurality of mounting projections areprovided on the outer circumferential portion of the second separatorand spaced apart in a circumferential direction, the mountingprojections being inserted into the mounting grooves of the base body.3. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein apair of shutter blades are used as the first light amount adjustingblade, a light reducing filter is used as the second light amountadjusting blade, the cover plate is formed from a metallic material, anda sliding projection along which the first light amount adjusting bladeis slid is provided on the cover plate.
 4. The light amount adjustingdevice according to claim 3, wherein first sliding projections andsecond sliding projections are provided as the sliding projection of thecover plate, the first and second sliding projections having differentamounts of projection and being slid by the pair of shutter blades,respectively.
 5. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 3,wherein the shutter blades are rotatably supported by the base body, andthe sliding projections of the cover plate are formed into approximatearcs on circles having rotating centers of the shutter blades ascenters.
 6. An image capture apparatus including a lens barrel havingpredetermined lens groups arranged therein and an apparatus bodysupporting the lens barrel, and incorporating therein a light amountadjusting device for adjusting an amount of light captured into the lensbarrel via the lens groups, the image capture apparatus comprising: acover plate having a light-passing hole; a first separator beingsheet-shaped and having a hole; a second separator being elasticallydeformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side opposite to the coverplate with the first separator therebetween, and having a hole; a firstlight amount adjusting blade being movable between the cover plate andthe first separator, for adjusting the amount of light; a second lightamount adjusting blade being movable between the first separator and thesecond separator, for adjusting the amount of light; a base body towhich the cover plate, the first separator, and the second separator aremounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughholebeing formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole ofthe second separator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separatorto be mounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole; a firstactuator for operating the first light amount adjusting blade; and asecond actuator for operating the second light amount adjusting blade,wherein the base body is formed by injection molding using a first moldand a second mold which are separated in a direction in which thethroughhole passes through, the mounting groove is formed by forming themounting groove forming projections in the first mold and the secondmold, respectively, the mounting groove forming projections projectingin such directions as to come closer to each other, and coming intocontact with each other during abutment of the first and second moldsfor charging resin melt into cavities, and the second separator ismounted onto the base body by allowing the elastically deformed secondseparator to be elastically returned so as to insert at least a part ofan outer circumferential portion thereof into the mounting grooves, bypositioning the second separator further toward the second light amountadjusting blade than the throughhole, and by positioning the hole on aninner side of the throughhole.